document.write( "Question 790926: jonathan and samantha paddle their canoe 26 miles downstream in 2 hours. after picnic they paddle upstream. after 3 hours they have traveled only 9 miles back. asuming that they padle at a constant rate and the river current is constant, find the speed at which jonathan and samantha can paddle in still water.. \n" ); document.write( "
Algebra.Com's Answer #479425 by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740)\"\" \"About 
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let s = speed in still water
\n" ); document.write( "let c = speed of the current
\n" ); document.write( "then
\n" ); document.write( "(s+c) = effective speed downstream
\n" ); document.write( "and
\n" ); document.write( "(s-c) - effective speed upstream
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "Write a distance equation of each way; dist = time * speed
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "\"paddle their canoe 26 miles downstream in 2 hours.\"
\n" ); document.write( "2(s+c) = 26
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "\"they paddle upstream. after 3 hours they have traveled only 9 miles back.\"
\n" ); document.write( "3(s-c) = 9
\n" ); document.write( ":
\n" ); document.write( "Simplify both equations, divide the first by 2, the 2nd by 3 and you have:
\n" ); document.write( "s + c = 13
\n" ); document.write( "s - c = 3
\n" ); document.write( "-----------Addition eliminates c, find s
\n" ); document.write( "2s = 16
\n" ); document.write( "s = 8 mph in still water\r
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